The Tracker's Secret: Sunderverse (Mate Tracker Book 2) by Ingrid Seymour (the gingerbread man read aloud .txt) 📗

and permanent. I hoped one day she would be, but I understood that she might not. Some people never were. I just hoped Rosalina and Josh weren’t among the latter.

Josh walked slowly, his eyes set on the pavement. He sported the khaki and yellow uniform that all Ted’s employees wore. He didn’t look like someone who particularly felt like going into work.

I took a step forward into his path, waiting for him to notice me. That same sour sent I’d detected on the vamp at Eric’s party wafted from him, making me curious once more. He got very close to me until he noticed my shoes and glanced up. A forlorn expression shaped his face, making him look like a sad puppy dog. But when he caught my eye, he smiled and greeted me.

“Good afternoon.” He had a boyish voice to go with his young features.

He started to skirt around me, but he stopped when I returned his greeting. “Hi, Josh. I would like to talk to you about something important.”

He blinked in surprise, his shoulders tensed. “How do you know my name?”

I held my palms up. “Oh, it’s nothing bad, on the contrary. My name is Antonietta Sunder.” I handed over my business card. “I own a tracker agency.”

“Mate tracker agency,” he elaborated, frowning as he read the card.

“That’s right. I will not interrupt your day further. I know you have work to do, but I wanted to give you this.” I handed over a cardstock envelope with the name of the agency embossed in the corner. “Please, read it when you have a chance. I hope you will find it interesting and decide to follow the instructions at the end of the letter. Have a good day, Josh.”

He whirled as I walked away. “Wait.” Stretching out his hand, making sure it didn’t go past the reach of his umbrella, he offered the envelope back.

My heart sank. He wouldn’t even give it a chance. I took it back, feeling terribly sad for Aaron. I started to put it away in my purse when Josh spoke.

“Would you read it for me, please? It’s hard for me to read in the sunlight, and once I get inside I won’t have a chance.”

I smiled in relief. “Of course, I’d love to read it for you.”

Opening the envelope with care, I took the letter out and unfolded it.

DEAR JOSH,

There is someone for everyone. Love isn’t a path on which we must struggle. Companionship and happiness are possible when the right people come together.

You may think these words are designed to deceive you, to fill you with hopes that are never fulfilled, but I assure you they are not. My tracking skills are true. I have brought many couples together who have found their “happily ever after.”

I don’t expect simple words to convince you. So instead, I want to invite you to meet the man who hired me to find you. His name is Aaron, and he is very eager to meet you.

If you have ever felt that everyone you’ve met isn’t quite right for you and are ready for a deep and fulfilling relationship, come to the address below today at 6 PM, and find out what you’ve been looking for. We will wait for you, but if you don’t come, we will understand. The choice is yours.

Antonietta Sunder

I gave back the letter without reading the address and scanned Josh’s face, searching for a reaction that might let me know if he would come, but he just looked confused.

“Um, I know it’s a lot to process. Maybe a hard decision,” I said, taking a step back. “So I’ll let you get to work.”

A smile stretched across Josh’s lips, changing his face so completely that I hadn’t realized how deeply sad his expression had been. “Not hard at all,” he said. “I’ll see you at six.”

AARON WAS PACING IN the agency’s waiting area across from Rosalina’s desk. He had changed from his jeans and colorful jacket to a shiny gray suit with a white shirt and purple tie. He looked very handsome and extremely nervous.

I had gone across the street to get coffees for everyone, except Josh who, being a vampire, couldn’t consume any food. Aaron’s coffee sat untouched on the side table, and I had started eyeing it since mine was almost gone. I tended to eat or drink too much whenever I was nervous.

Rosalina seemed to be the only one keeping her cool. She was more level headed about matters of the heart, whether they involved her or others.

When the clock struck 6:10 PM, I started to get worried.

“Do you think he changed his mind?” Aaron asked just as I started wondering the same thing. “Maybe it’s for the best.” He sat on the small sofa, staring at the floor. He was clearly disappointed but trying to find some silver lining where there was none.

I opened my mouth to say something when the front door abruptly opened and a figure rushed in and stopped on a dime.

It was Josh Rice, his skin smoking slightly, his hair in disarray.

He hissed, shaking his hands. “Shit, that hurts.” Noticing us, he went rigid. “Um, sorry. The sun is almost down, and I didn’t want to look stupid with... my umbrella.” He trailed off as he focused on Aaron.

The werewolf stood up slowly, his brown eyes fixed on Josh. He looked like somebody who had forgotten how to breathe and blink.

“Hi, Josh, I’m so glad you could make it,” I said. I perceived a hint of that strange sour scent on him, but it was disguised by the smell of sweet, ice cream treats.

With difficulty, he glanced away from Aaron. “Sorry, I’m late. Traffic was bad.”

He scanned Aaron from head to toe, and self-consciously straightened his yellow T-shirt. Josh was too handsome to be insecure, but he was certainly worried about first impressions, considering that he’d risk getting burned so he wouldn’t look dorky with his reflective umbrella.

“It doesn’t matter,” I said.